The Ides of March Script

The Ides of March Script

JCL Version

Caesar(to thesoothsayer) The Ides of March are come.

Soothsayer Aye, Caesar, but not gone.

Caesargoes up to the senate house, the rest following.

Popillius(tocassius) I hope your endeavor goes well today.

Cassius What endeavor, Popillius?

PopilliusGood luck.

Popilliusapproaches Caesar.

Brutus(toCassius) What did Popillius Lena say?

Cassius(speaking so that onlybrutuscan hear) He wished that our endeavor would go well

today. I'm afraid we've been found out.

BrutusLook, he's approaching Caesar. Keep an eye on him.

CassiusCasca, be quick, because we're worried we might be stopped.

CaesarAre we all ready? What problem should I discuss with you first?

Casca Hands, speak for me!

Stab caesar: casca first, then other Conspirators, then brutus last.

CaesarEt tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar. (dies)

CinnaLiberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run and proclaim it in the streets.

CascaGo to the platform, Brutus.

BrutusKneel, Romans, kneel, and let's wash our hands, up to the elbows, in Caesar's blood

and smear it on our swords. Then we'll go out, even to the marketplace, and, waving our

bloody swords over our heads, let's cry, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”

CassiusKneel then, and wash.

The conspirators smear their hands and swords with caesar’sblood.

How many years from now will this heroic scene be reenacted in countries that don't even

exist yet and in languages not yet known!

Antonyenters.

BrutusBut here comes Antony.—Welcome, Mark Antony.

AntonyOh, mighty Caesar! Do you lie so low? Have all your conquests, glories, triumphs,

achievements, come to so little? Farewell.

Gentlemen, I don't know what you intend to do, who else you intend to kill, who else you

consider corrupt.

BrutusOh, Antony, don't beg us to kill you.

But just be patient until we've calmed the masses, who are beside themselves with fear.

Then we'll explain to you why I, who loved Caesar even while I stabbed him,

have taken this course of action.

I'll stand on the platform first and explain the reason for Caesar's death.

Mark Antony, You will not blame us in your funeral speech,

but will say all the good you want to about Caesar.

Everyone except Antonyexits.

AntonyOh, pardon me, you bleeding corpse,

for speaking politely and acting mildly with these butchers!

You are what's left of the noblest man that ever lived.

Pity the hand that shed this valuable blood.

Enter brutus and cassiuswith plebians

BrutusLet those who will hear me speak stay.

Lead those away who will follow you, and

we'll explain publicly the reasons for Caesar's death.

Third PlebianQuiet! Noble Brutus has mounted the platform.

BrutusRomans, countrymen, and friends!

Listen to my reasons and be silent so you can hear.

Believe me on my honor and keep my honor in mind, so you may believe me.

Be wise when you criticize me and keep your minds alert so you can judge me fairly.

If there's anyone in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's,

I say to him that my love for Caesar was no less than his.

If, then, that friend demands to know why I rose up against Caesar,

this is my answer: it's not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.

I weep for Caesar in that he was good to me. I rejoice in his good fortune.

I honor him for being brave. But his ambition—for that, I killed him.

With these words I leave. Just as I killed my best friend for the good of Rome,

so will I kill myself when my country requires my death.

All Live, Brutus! Live, live!

BrutusGood countrymen, let me leave alone.

I want you to stay here with Antony to pay respects to

Caesar's corpse and listen to Antony's speech about Caesar's glories.

First Plebian Let's stay and hear Mark Antony.

Second PlebianNoble Antony, mount the podium.

First PlebianCaesar was a tyrant.

Third PlebianThat's for sure. We're lucky that Rome is rid of him.

AntonyFriends, Romans, countrymen, give me your attention.

I have come here to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do is remembered after their deaths,

but the good is often buried with them.

It might as well be the same with Caesar.

The noble Brutus told you that Caesar was ambitious.

If that's true, it's a serious fault. He was my friend, he was faithful and just to me.

But Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man.

When the poor cried, Caesar cried too. Ambition shouldn't be so soft.

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man.

I offered him a king's crown three times, and he refused it three times.

Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious.

And, no question, Brutus is an honorable man.

I am not here to disprove what Brutus has said, but to say what I know.

You all loved him once, and not without reason.

Then what reason holds you back from mourning him now?

First PlebianI think there's a lot of sense in what he says.

Second PlebianIf you think about it correctly, Caesar has suffered a great wrong.

Fourth PlebianDid you hear Antony? Caesar wouldn't take the crown.

Therefore it's certain that he wasn't ambitious.

Second PlebianOh, noble Caesar!

Third PlebianO woeful day!

First PlebianOh, most bloody sight!

Second PlebianWe will get revenge.

All Revenge! Let's go after them! Seek! Burn! Set fire! Kill! Slay! Leave no traitors alive!

all exit except Antony.

AntonyNow, let it work. Trouble, you have begun—take whatever course you choose!